NEW DELHI, Nov. 6 (TNS): After a four-month hiatus, cross-LoC trade and bus service between India and Pakistan through the Poonch-Rawalkote route is likely to resume this week, Indian government officials said.
According to Times of India report, the development follows the release of prisoners and fishermen by both countries last week.
Cross-LoC trade is seen by both countries as a significant confidence building measure but it has come under the scrutiny of Indian investigating agencies.
Trade through the Uri-Muzaffarabad route on the LoC was also suspended for a while earlier this year after the seizure of banned drugs but resumed in August.
occupied J&K puppet chief minister Mehbooba Mufti has remained committed to cross-LoC trade despite demands by local BJP leaders to shun it in the face of allegations that the facility was being used to fund terrorism.
The Poonch-Rawalkot bus service is also likely to resume on Monday after it was stopped four months ago because of firing on the LoC.
“Since both sides decided to resume travel and trade at a meeting near the LoC on Friday, we are hopeful of resumption of the weekly cross-LoC bus service as per schedule on Monday,” custodian of LoC trade (Poonch) Mohammad Tanveer was quoted as having told local news agencies.
Senior civil officials from Poonch and AJK held a meeting on Friday and agreed to resume the suspended bus service and trade between the two sides. The bus service was started along the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road in April 2005 and the Poonch-Rawalkot route on June 20, 2006, to facilitate easier trade and travel between the divided families of occupied J&K and AJK.
